The Perfect Ratio Of Fragrance Oil For Soap Making

The amount of fragrance oil to add to soap depends on the type of soap being made, the weight of the soap, and the strength of the desired scent. A fragrance calculator can be used to determine the amount of fragrance oil needed for a particular project. For example, the Bramble Berry Fragrance Calculator provides recommendations for light, medium, or strong scents in ounces and grams.

The general recommended amount of fragrance oil per pound of soap varies depending on the type of soap being made. Cold process soap typically calls for 0.7 ounces of fragrance oil per pound, while melt and pour soap uses 0.3 ounces per pound. These amounts can be adjusted to personal preference, as some fragrance oils are lighter or stronger than others.

It is important to note that essential oils and fragrance oils have different safe usage rates and should not be used interchangeably. Essential oils are more potent, so less is needed to achieve the desired scent. Additionally, some essential oils, such as clove and cinnamon, have very low usage rates due to their potential to cause skin irritation.

Calculating fragrance oil percentage

Calculating the fragrance oil percentage in soap is a crucial step in the soap-making process, as it ensures that your final product has the desired scent strength without wasting expensive fragrance oils. The amount of fragrance oil to use can vary depending on personal preference, the type of soap being made, and the specific fragrance oil being used. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you calculate the fragrance oil percentage for your soap:

Step 1: Understand the Basics

Before you begin, it's important to understand the key terms and concepts involved in calculating fragrance oil percentages. The percentage of fragrance oil is typically calculated based on the weight of the soap, including all its ingredients. This is often referred to as the total weight or total recipe volume. The fragrance oil is usually measured in ounces or grams, and it is added per pound of soap.

Step 2: Determine Your Soap's Total Weight

To calculate the fragrance oil percentage, you need to know the total weight of your soap batch. This includes the weight of all the ingredients used, such as oils, butter, lye, water, and any additives. You can measure the weight of each ingredient individually and then add them together to find the total weight.

Step 3: Decide on the Fragrance Oil Percentage

The standard fragrance oil usage rate for cold process soap is typically around 0.7 ounces per pound of soap. However, this can vary depending on the strength of the fragrance oil and personal preference. Some sources suggest a range of 0.5 to 1 ounce per pound of soap for fragrance oils, while others recommend starting with 3% and adjusting according to your liking. For essential oils, the usage rate is generally lower, ranging from 0.2 to 0.7 ounces per pound of soap.

Step 4: Calculate the Amount of Fragrance Oil Needed

To calculate the amount of fragrance oil needed, multiply the total weight of your soap by the desired fragrance oil percentage. For example, if you have a 16-ounce batch of cold process soap and want a medium scent, you would use 0.7 ounces of fragrance oil per pound, which equals 1.12 ounces of fragrance oil for the entire batch.

Step 5: Consider Adjustments

Keep in mind that some fragrance and essential oils are lighter or stronger than others, so you may need to adjust the amount slightly. For instance, if you are using a very strong fragrance oil like English Rose, you might want to use less than the recommended amount to achieve your desired scent strength. Always refer to the manufacturer's guidelines and safety data sheets for the specific fragrance oil you are using.

Step 6: Use a Fragrance Calculator

To make the calculation process easier, you can use online fragrance calculators provided by some suppliers, such as the Bramble Berry Fragrance Calculator. These calculators allow you to input the fragrance oil you are using, the type of product you are making, and the weight. They will then provide you with recommended amounts for light, medium, or strong scents.

By following these steps, you can calculate the fragrance oil percentage for your soap and create beautifully scented products. Remember to adjust the amounts based on your personal preference and always refer to safety guidelines when working with fragrance and essential oils. Happy soap-making!

How to use a fragrance calculator

Using a fragrance calculator can be very helpful when making soap, as it takes the guesswork out of the process and gives you complete control over your recipes. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use a fragrance calculator:

Step 1: Choose a Fragrance Calculator

Start by choosing a fragrance calculator that suits your needs. One popular option is the Bramble Berry Fragrance Calculator, which can be found on their website. This calculator offers options for various products, including lotion, liquid soap, cold process soap, melt-and-pour soap, salts and scrubs, rebatch soap, candles, and shampoo and conditioner.

Step 2: Select Your Fragrance Oil

Once you have chosen a fragrance calculator, the next step is to select the specific fragrance oil you will be using. Fragrance calculators usually have a list of options to choose from. For example, the Bramble Berry Fragrance Calculator offers a wide range of fragrance oils, including Almond, Apple Sage, Black Amber and Lavender, and many more.

Step 3: Enter the Weight and Unit of Measurement

After selecting your fragrance oil, you will need to enter the weight of your soap batch and choose the unit of measurement. If you are making cold process soap, be sure to include the total weight of your soap, including oils, liquid, and lye. For example, if you are making 16 ounces of cold process soap, you would enter that amount.

Step 4: Review the Recommendations

The fragrance calculator will then provide you with recommendations for light, medium, or strong scents, usually in ounces and grams. You can adjust the scent, project, or weight as needed. Some calculators also offer additional features, such as the ability to save your recipe, print it, or purchase the required oil directly.

Step 5: Adjust to Your Preference

Keep in mind that you can always adjust the amount of fragrance oil based on your personal preference. Some fragrance oils may be light or exceedingly strong, so you may need to use more or less to achieve your desired scent strength. For example, English Rose Fragrance Oil is known to be very strong, so you may not need to use the full recommended amount.

Step 6: Create Custom Blends (Optional)

Fragrance calculators can also be used to create custom blends. You can find the general recommended amounts for various products, typically listed as medium strength. These amounts can serve as a starting point for creating your own unique blends.

By following these steps, you can effectively use a fragrance calculator to determine the appropriate amount of fragrance oil for your soap-making projects. Not only will this save you time and money, but it will also ensure that your soap has the desired scent strength without any unpleasant side effects from using too much fragrance oil.

Fragrance oil vs essential oil

The amount of fragrance oil to add to soap depends on the desired strength of the scent. A fragrance calculator can be used to determine the amount of oil to add to a batch of soap. Generally, the amount of fragrance oil added is between 0.5 and 1 oz per pound of soap.

Now, when it comes to fragrance oil vs essential oil, there are a few things to consider. Fragrance oils are synthetic, created in a lab with a mix of aroma chemicals and natural ingredients like essential oils, extracts, and resins. Just one fragrance oil can be made up of 40-80 materials, and luxury perfumes often contain even more. There are more than 200 fragrance oil varieties to choose from, including scents like champagne, coastal rain, and moonstone. They are also skin-safe and can be used in soap, lotion, bath bombs, and more. However, some fragrance oils can cause issues in soap-making, such as discoloration or seizing.

On the other hand, essential oils are natural, extracted from herbs, flowers, and plants, usually through steam distillation. They tend to be more expensive than fragrance oils because it takes a large quantity of plant material to produce a small quantity of oil. There are fewer options for essential oils, as not everything in nature produces an essential oil. For example, you won't find strawberry or vanilla essential oils. Additionally, some essential oils fade in cold process soap, and others like cinnamon and clove can't be used in leave-on products. However, essential oils may offer potential therapeutic benefits.

Ultimately, the choice between fragrance oil and essential oil is a matter of personal preference. Both options have their pros and cons, and it's important to consider factors such as cost, availability, and the desired scent when making a decision.

IFRA guidelines for essential oil use in soap

The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) is an organisation that publishes a set of standards for fragrance and essential oil use in body-care products. While using their standards is suggested, it is not required. The IFRA standards are based on scientific analysis and are designed to ensure the safety of fragrance materials.

The IFRA website is not the easiest to navigate. It does not list individual essential oils, but rather the components of essential oils. To use the database, you need to know the components of your essential oils. You can find this information in the Certificate of Analysis (COA) for the essential oil.

Once you know the components, you can search for them in the IFRA database to find the recommended usage rate for each component. The recommended rate will be given as a percentage of the total weight of the finished product. You then need to calculate how much of each essential oil you can use in your batch of soap based on these percentages.

For example, if you are making a batch of soap with a total weight of 45.5 oz, and the recommended usage rate for a component is 0.5%, then you can use 0.2275 oz of that component in your soap batch.

It is important to note that the recommended usage rates for essential oils can vary depending on the product type. There are eleven IFRA product categories, including soap, lotion, deodorant, and mouthwash. The usage rate for an essential oil in soap (a wash-off product) will typically be higher than the usage rate for the same essential oil in a leave-on product like lotion.

In addition to IFRA guidelines, it is important to consider the performance of the essential oil in soap. Some essential oils can accelerate trace or cause other problems if used in high amounts. It is generally recommended to use essential oils at a rate of 0.5-1 oz per pound of oils (or 30-60 grams) in soap. However, for certain essential oils, such as cinnamon or clove, this usage rate is higher than the recommended amount per IFRA. In these cases, it is important to follow the IFRA guidelines to ensure the safety of your product.

How to blend fragrances

Blending fragrances is a fun yet challenging task. It is similar to mixing spices and ingredients when cooking. Some fragrances simply do not smell pleasant when mixed. Notes can become muddled or disappear completely. However, there is no right or wrong way to blend fragrances. It is a matter of personal preference.

Consider the "Type" of Scent:

Fragrance oils can be categorised into several large categories, including but not limited to floral, fruity, clean, masculine, and sweet. It is helpful to define the fragrance oil you want to blend and organise your fragrance oil collection by scent type. This way, you can easily identify the general scent profile of the fragrance oil when mixing.

Consider All the Notes in the Fragrance:

The larger categories of fragrance oils (floral, fruity, clean, masculine, sweet) have numerous sub-categories. For example, citrus scents are considered fruity, but they can range from zesty to creamy and sweet. It is important to consider all the notes of a fragrance rather than just the general category. Some fragrances may even fall into two categories.

Consider How Strong the Fragrance Is:

Some fragrance oils feature stronger notes than others. When blending fragrances, these strong notes may overpower fragrance oils with more subtle notes. When working with extremely strong fragrance oils, use less in the blend to allow the weaker scents to shine through.

Start with Small Amounts:

When starting the mixing process, use very small amounts of each fragrance oil. Using droppers, decide on the amount you want to consider as "one part." Because some fragrance oils are heavier than others, measuring by weight keeps it consistent. When mixing fragrances, you can consider .1 oz of fragrance oil as "one part." Combine two to three fragrance oils in a fragrance oil-safe container at .1 oz each, then swish the mixture around to ensure the oils are fully blended.

Evaluate the Blend:

After blending, it's time to smell and evaluate your creation. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do the notes of the fragrances complement each other?
• What notes are strong, and which are weak?
• Does one fragrance oil completely overpower another?
• Can you smell multiple parts of all the fragrance oils?

Once you are happy with your blend, transfer it to a small container and label it. This way, you can easily re-smell the fragrance and recreate it in larger projects.

Some Fragrance Oils that Blend Well:

• Vanilla Select Fragrance Oil: Blends well with sweet, masculine, and fruity scents.
• Champagne Fragrance Oil: Blends well with fruity, clean, sweet, and some floral scents.
• Baby Rose Fragrance Oil: Blends well with floral, fruity, and some sweet scents.
• Green Tea Fragrance Oil: Blends well with clean, fruity, floral, and masculine scents.
• 10x Orange Essential Oil: Blends well with fruity, clean, sweet, masculine, and floral scents.
• Sensuous Sandalwood Fragrance Oil: Blends well with masculine, sweet, and some floral scents.

Additional Tips:

• Fragrance oils don't saponify, so they can evaporate during the curing process. Anchoring your fragrances with additives like kaolin clay can help them stay put.
• Liquid discounting can also improve fragrance retention by reducing the amount of liquid that needs to cure out of your soaps.
• Some essential oils may be stronger than fragrance oils, and vice versa. When blending the two, start with a 1:1 ratio and adjust as needed.

Frequently asked questions